Ask DocSk8 (Expert Indoor Skate Building Advice)This forum is different then the other SkateLog forums in that it is not a discussion forum, but rather a place you can ask skate building expert Fred "DocSk8" Benjamin about
building and repairing indoor speed, derby, and jamskate quad roller skates. Please start a new thread for each new
question.

I hate to barge in here Doc, but what in your opinion is the best cleaner? I have been using Isopropyl Alcohol lately but i think gas does a better job.

But GAS dangerous as all get out. It must be used in very small quantities ( I use 2-4 oz about) and in an ignition source free environment...Like outside... with a breeze blowing and ... well, ya get the idea??

Now the safety message... DON'T USE GASOLINE for this... You have been warned.

Even if you think you'll be careful with gasoline about fire, it is very hazardous to the health. Gasoline along with certain other chemicals can be absorbed through the skin, besides the hazards of breathing in the vapors.

Additionally, some chemicals are strong enough to eat through the rubber, nylon, or plastic parts on the bearings. Any thing containing Toluene should be avoided.

99% alcohol is a good mild degreaser that is probably the safest strong stuff to use other than a water based solution.
Others, including myself, use mineral spirits which would be as strong as you should ever need, but use caution as directed above.

Additionally, some chemicals are strong enough to eat through the rubber, nylon, or plastic parts on the bearings.

This is something I wondered about. Which ones are going to do this? Alcohol, acetone, citrus cleaner? I've been popping out the nylon cages on my Bones to be on the safe side when I clean them but a couple of times I've ended up disassembling the entire bearing, which is frustrating as heck to reassemble.

So me and the lady cleaned our bearings a couple days ago using the hot water, hair drying and 3 in 1 method. Last night my skates felt incredibly slow, like there was a lot of drag/ rolling resistance. Must be something with the bearings. Any suggestions as to why this might be? I'm sure they were dry before I lubed them and reinstalled the shields... I can't be rolling on these things like this, they nearly sent me backwards a couple times because I'm used to gliding along with little effort.

So me and the lady cleaned our bearings a couple days ago using the hot water, hair drying and 3 in 1 method. Last night my skates felt incredibly slow, like there was a lot of drag/ rolling resistance.
Are they noisy?? If it was something in the cleaning..as in you did not get it all... then I can understand...

Must be something with the bearings.

MUST be?? Could you have them adjusted incorrectly??

Any suggestions as to why this might be? I'm sure they were dry before I lubed them and reinstalled the shields... I can't be rolling on these things like this, they nearly sent me backwards a couple times because I'm used to gliding along with little effort.

If at first you don't succeed, try again... Scrub 'em good, You may want to do the scrub / rinse cycle a few times....

One other thought, I ran into some really hard water one time when we were out at the races...(Yes I cleaned my daughters racing bearings like this when we were on the road) and had to get some distilled H2O to rinse them.... Talk about a pain...

__________________
"The difference between good skates and great skates comes from knowing where to get the numbers."

So last night I removed all my bearings, again. Cleaned them all individually with a toothbrush and dish soap, again. Dried them thoroughly and noticed oxidation on some of them.. already! Can't have been more than 10 mins in and out of the cleaning process. Ok, lesson learned. Repeat cleaning process individually, dried them each individually straight away, no rust problem... Bearings spinning great

Add 3 in 1 and they don't want to spin.. what's up with that? Should I be using a different lube? I would naturally expect (with the addition of a coating of any lube) that they might slow down a bit but not this much... suggestions are most welcome! gotta get them spinning good by tuesday night for adult night!

Ps. Doc, I'm assuming by 'correct adjustment' you would mean not over tightening the wheel nuts? I'm very careful about that so I'm pretty sure that isn't the issue.

So last night I removed all my bearings, again. Cleaned them all individually with a toothbrush and dish soap, again. Dried them thoroughly and noticed oxidation on some of them.. already! Can't have been more than 10 mins in and out of the cleaning process. Ok, lesson learned. Repeat cleaning process individually, dried them each individually straight away, no rust problem... Bearings spinning great

Add 3 in 1 and they don't want to spin.. what's up with that? Should I be using a different lube?

3 in 1 is what is in the Uncle Charlie's tube... It works fine.... I'm buffaloed.

I would naturally expect (with the addition of a coating of any lube) that they might slow down a bit but not this much... suggestions are most welcome! gotta get them spinning good by tuesday night for adult night!

Have you rolled them again?

Ps. Doc, I'm assuming by 'correct adjustment' you would mean not over tightening the wheel nuts? I'm very careful about that so I'm pretty sure that isn't the issue.

Gotta check all the options...

__________________
"The difference between good skates and great skates comes from knowing where to get the numbers."

Add 3 in 1 and they don't want to spin.. what's up with that? Should I be using a different lube? I would naturally expect (with the addition of a coating of any lube) that they might slow down a bit but not this much... suggestions are most welcome! gotta get them spinning good by tuesday night for adult night!

Once you add lube they are gonna slow down while free spinning them. But they shouldnt while skating on them. So many people think your bearings are good if they free spin for along time or bad if they dont... that has absolutely nothing to do with how they perform under a load....

I am in the process of trying to clean up an old set of bearings. I can't seem to get all the grit out of a couple of them. Also, it looks like some rust may have set in (I get a little orange color to the residue when I wipe them down). Will the rust make a difference if I get them properly cleaned and lubed? Also, how do I get that last little bit of grit out? I can feel it grinding away at the bearings if I try to spin them.
I'm using mineral spirits and compressed air to blow/dry them out and then bones speed cream for lube when I'm done. This should be okay, right?

I am in the process of trying to clean up an old set of bearings. I can't seem to get all the grit out of a couple of them. Also, it looks like some rust may have set in (I get a little orange color to the residue when I wipe them down). Will the rust make a difference if I get them properly cleaned and lubed? Also, how do I get that last little bit of grit out? I can feel it grinding away at the bearings if I try to spin them.
I'm using mineral spirits and compressed air to blow/dry them out and then bones speed cream for lube when I'm done. This should be okay, right?

Hope Doc doesn't mind me jumping in on this one...

If there's visible (evidenced by the reddish orange residue) rust in there then the bearings are basically history - rust = pitting = the noise you're hearing when you spin them.

If there's visible (evidenced by the reddish orange residue) rust in there then the bearings are basically history - rust = pitting = the noise you're hearing when you spin them.

Pitted bearings are no good to anyone i'm afraid

Rust can be from the cages and not the balls or races. If the balls are pitted or spalled (spalling is a different process but has essentially the same result...) You can't fix that... But if it is not real bad you can get by with them for a while...
The definition of "real bad" is what ever you can stand...

__________________
"The difference between good skates and great skates comes from knowing where to get the numbers."